Plier-wrench



Feb. 17, 1953 N. BERGLUND ETAL PLIER-WRENCH Filed March 2, 1950INVENTORS: NELS BERGLU ND AUGUST BERGLUND Patented Feb. 17, 1953 NelsBerglund uluth and August Berglund,

Minn.

Application March 2, 1950, Serial No. 147,238

3 Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches and has special reference to wrenchesof the plier type.

One of the principal objects of the instant invention is to provide awrench which gives a firm positive grip on a workpiece without the needfor excessive hand pressure.

Another object is to provide such a wrench of the plier type which isadjustable so that a wide size range of workpieces may be handledemciently with the'wrench. 1

Another object is to provide such a wrench with as few parts aspossible, and one which can be manufactured and sold inexpensively.

A further object is to provide an adjustable plier wrench wherein theworking faces Of the jaws remain substantially parallel irrespective ofthe spaced relationship of the jaws.

A further object is to provide an off-center locking arrangementwhereby, once a grip is obtained on a workpiece, it will not benecessary to apply excessive pressure to maintain the grip on theworkpiece.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as thedescription of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an adjustable plier-wrenc-hembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the deviceshown in Fig. 1.

In the drawing the reference numeral I indicates the fixed jaw of thewrench or plier, and 2 indicates the working face thereof which may beprovided with teeth as shown for gripping a workpiece. The numeral 3indicates the stationary handle portion of the wrench which ispreferably integral with the jaw I, being joined thereto by means of thefulcrum portion 4. The handle 3 is hollow, as at 5, to reciprocablyreceive an adlusting screw 6. The rear end of the handle 3 is flattenedor spread slightly as at 1 to permit an opening 8 to be formedtherethrough, an adjusting nut 9 being carried in the opening, and beingthreaded on the screw 6 so that the latter may be reciprocated in thehollow handle 3 by rotating the nut 9 in one direction or the other.

An elongated slot II) is provided in the fulcrum portion 4 of thestationary member of the wrench. the slot preferably being disposed atan obtuse angle to the working face of the fixed jaw I.

A movable jaw II is provided, having a working face I2 which is normallysubstantially parallel with the working face 2 of the jaw I when thewrench is in operation. The movable jaw has an integral fulcrum portionI3 and handle I4, an opening (not shown) being provided through thefulcrum portion, whereby a rivet I! may be installed through the lattersaid opening and the slot ID to secure the movable and fixed parts ofthe plier or wrench together in slidable, pivotal relationship.

The fulcrum portions 4 and I3 are of reduced thickness to that of theirrespective jaws I and I I, the jaws extending laterally on oppositesides of their respective fulcrum portions so that the working faces ofthe jaws will meet in alined relationship, as shown.

To complete the wrench, a link arm I5 is provided between the adjustingscrew 6 and the movable member of the wrench. The link arm is pivotallysecured to the inner end of the screw 6 as by a rivet It. The oppositeend of the arm I5 has a substantially cylindrical enlargement or head I1thereon which is carried in a similarly shaped opening or indenture I8formed in the 'edge of the fulcrum portion I3 directly opposite thescrew 6, as shown, the fulcrum portion being slightly extended orenlarged for the purpose, thus, the arm I5 is pivotally carried by thescrew 6 and by the fulcrum portion I3 of the movable member of thewrench.

It will readily be seen, from the above. that the spacing of the workingfaces 2 and I2 from each other may readily be adjusted by rotating thenut 9 to reciprocate the screw 6. The link arm I 5 will move the movablemember I II3--I4 when the screw 6 is reciprocated, the rivet 0 slidingfreely in the slot IIl, obviously, to change the relationship of theworking faces. When the spacing of the jaws is changed, theirsubstantially parallel relationship is not effected until the handle I4is moved away from the handle 3 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thismoves the jaw II away from the jaw I enough so that they may be engagedon a workpiece.

When the jaws are in this open position, it is to be noted that the endI1 of the link arm is carried with the fulcrum portion I3, it beingpivotally carried in the socket I8, and is on the outside of a linerumiing from the pin or rivet I6 to the pin or rivet 0. However, whenthe handle I4 is moved to its normal gripping position as shown in fulllines, Fig. 1, the end I! of the arm is on the opposite side of the saidline between the rivets I6 and 0. This feature puts the link arm in anoff center relationship with the jaw fulcrum I] which looks the jaws onthe workpiece and prevents the transmission of opening stresses from thejaws through to the handles. This eliminates the need for applying anexcessively strong hand grip to keep the handles 3 and M from spreadingand releasing the workpiece from the jaws. The jaws are easily openedwhen desired, however, by manually moving the handles 3 and I4 apart.

In adjusting. the plier-wrench to. a particular workpiece, theadjustment should be made so that the head I! of the link arm moves intoits desired ofi-set relationship to the jaw fulcrum rivet 0 to providethe desired locking feature and eliminate the need for excessivegripping stress on the handles as is the case with ordinarypliers.

A stop 19 is provided on the fulcrum portion I3- adjacent the socket 18to engage the-link arm 15:,

as shown in dotted lines at 20, to limit the disltance the handles 3 andM may be spread apart. With the instant plier-wrench leverage andworkpiece grip is provided without the need for excessive strength onthe part of the. operator. Having thus described our invention, what weclaim is z I. In a plier-wrench a pair of one-piece mem bar's, eachof'said members having a rigid jawspread said handles apart.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 and a stop adjacent said socketto limit the distance said handles may be spaced apart.

NELS BERGLUND. AUGUST BERGLUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 449,627 McNair Mar. 31,18911,280,405 Collison et a1. Oct. 1, 1918 2,206,251. Fischer July: 2, 19402,471,734 Fischer May 31, 1949 2,481,435 Meunier Sept. 6, 1949 2,496,308Pugh et a1; Feb. 7, 1950 2,498,235 Barber Feb. 21, 1950 2,519,630 BoyerAug. 22, 1950

